Apparatus for winding strandular material



Aug. 19, 1941. A. L. JACKSON APPARATUS FOR WINDING STRANDULAR MATERIALFi led Jan. 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- Gummy;

Aug. 19, 1941. A. 1.. JACKSON APPABKTUS FOR WINDING STRANDULAR MATERIAL2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19, 1938 rim Jlfll/fl Jachm Patented Aug.19, 19 41 UNITED STATES PATENTg OFFICE Arthur L. Jumafv f $1119. in.assignor to American Enka Corporati m N c. a p ration of DelawareApplication January 19, 938; Serial No. 185,787

(01. tie-13o) The present invention relates to an improved 3 Claims.

method of rewinding packages of strandular textile materials intoconvenient forms, and more particularly to a novel type supportingdevice for use in bobbin or, pot pa'c ages of rayon that have beensuitably processed and preferably dried.

Heretofore, in the one or more rewinding steps involved in rayontwisting, coning or the like operations, metallic and wooden insertshave been employed in the interiors of the packages to be unwound. Suchinserts are substantially rigid so that during the initial rewindingstage the layers throughout the packages of rayon are maintained insitu, As the rewinding progresses,

however, the rigidity of the inner layers is de-. creasedand the layerstend to separate and fall apart. This is due to the absence of thesupport previously furnished by the outer layers and to the fact thatthe packages have been dried without internal supports, therebyresulting in a substantial amount of supplene'ss and crinkle within theinner layers. Now, when the inflexible support is inserted into eachpackage, the inner layers are urged outwardly to increase the degree ofcrinklej or waviness and, therefore, a loose residual inner portion ofthe package occurs. The latter part of the rewinding operation hasaccordingly been impractical and subject to numerous objections, becausethe loose inner layers tended to become entangled or even fall apartthereby incurring substantial breakage and improper winding.

It is further contemplated to provide an improved method of rewindingpackages of strandular'materials wherein all portions thereof aremaintained taut and in position during rewinding to facilitate acontinuous operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel type internalsupports to be inserted into bobbin or pot spun packages of rayon, whichinserts increase in size in direct proportionto the decrease of theresistance of the inner layers as the unwinding of the outer layersprogresses.

In an effort to overcome these difliculties it has been attempted todrive wedge-shaped inserts or separable inserts having wedgestherebetween into the interiors of the packages, but

this procedure only accentuated the poor results; It was determined thatas greater pressure was imposed on the said interiors prior tounwinding, the crinkle on the inner layers was increased. The onlyoutward pressure exerted by these inserts was that imparted by thewedging action per se and after the unwinding was allowed to continuefor a time, the resistance of the residual layers became less than theforce derived from the wedging action. For this reason, during thelatter part of the rewinding period the same aforementioned problemswere involved even when wedge-shaped irrsertswere used.

It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to apply acontinuous outward pressure, automatically, to the interiors of packagesof strandular materials throughout a complete winding ofl operation.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description when considered in connection, with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

, Figure 1 is a ores-sectional view of a pneumatic type of supportformed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 exemplifies a cross-section of the structure illustrated inFigure 1, after inflation of the same with a package thereonin readinessto be unwound;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating a rewindingoperation conducted in accordance with this invention; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I indicates an expandible rubbermember for internally supporting a rayon package 2. This rubber memberis in the shape of an elongated tube and when deflated, is of smallerdiameter than the thread-free interior of the said package. The loweropen end of the tubular memher. is formed with an inwardly extendingflange 3 and is thereby mounted on a metallic base 4. This base,preferably constructed of brass, is provided with a screw-threaded lowerportion I adapted toreceive thereon a cup-shaped washer 8 formaintaining an air-tight juncture and for holding the rubber member,rigidly in place against the flange 3.

The base and washer fit'into a cut out portion 1 formed in the platformI which is conveniently positioned for supporting a number of similarpackage retaining members or supports. The screw-threaded lower portionof the base extends through the platform and a steel nut 8 is screwedthereon so as to hold the assembled elements in a fixed, stationaryposition. The portion 5 of the base is hollow and intemally threadedadjacent its lower end for the pur- 7 pose of receiving an airhose llsuitablyconnected to an air supply (not shown) to provide sufilcientpressure to maintain the rubber member inflated and in expandedengagement with the rayon package during the winding off period (seeFigure 2). The upper portion of the base is similarly internallythreaded to receive a tube II which is closed at its upper end andextends up through a portion of the interior of the rubber member.Closed tube II is provided with air outlet jets l2, preferably locatedat points about the periphery thereof adjacent the upper face of thebase. Such location permits the exhaustion of any moisture introducedinto the inflation zone. The primary function of the tube is to preventinjury to the rubber supporting member when positioning a rayon packagethereon. In some cases when the rubber member is sufficiently stiff,this pipe may be entirely eliminated.

If, during the processing of the rayon packages, it becomes necessary toprotect the same with a permeable covering such as a cotton sock, thenappropriate means are employed to prevent the covering from interferingwith the unwinding operations. In Figure .2 the lower half 13 of acotton sock is shown rolled down to the bottom of the package andresting on the platform 8. The upper half It of the cotton sock visshown as having been folded into a compact position at the top of therubber member and retained by means of a brass cap l5 having a circularchannel [6 fitting over a ridge I'I formed in the upper part of therubber member I. The

ridge and channel form a tight joint when the rubber member is properlyinflated.

In the operation of my invention the deflated rubber member is mountedby screwing the washer 8 onto the base 4 prior to positioning it withinthe cut out portion 1 formed in the platform 8. The parts are thensecured to the base and a rayon package is placed on the rubber memberwhich is in turn connected to a suitable air supply by means of the airhose Ill. The rubber member I is inflated and maintained at a constantair pressure of from flve to ten pounds.

This pressure inflates the'tubular device and expands the same so as torigidly hold the package in position. After arranging the cotton sock aspreviously described, the textile strand is threaded through a series ofguides and tensioning devices l8 and on to a driven cone or core l9 uponwhich it is to be rewound. The rewinding operation is then initiated andproceeds in accordance with the showing of Figure 3. Normally, upon thewithdrawal of the outer layers of thread, the loose, supple inner layersof thread would fall apart and become entangled. However, in a rewindingoperation conducted in accordance with this invention, a constantpressure is maintained in the inflation zone of the rubber member duringthe winding off period and this increases the size of the rubber memberdue to the decrease of support and looseness' of the residual innerlayers. It is obvious that the unwinding can now be carried outuninterruptedly because the residual inner layers are successively heldtaut and in position until the operation is completed.

In some cases a resilient spring member or circular spring inserts thatwill increase in size or expand transversely of the axis of the rayonpackage during the winding off process, may be substituted for thepneumatic. rubber device and improved results realized.

It is to be understood that my invention is not supported threadpackages provided with fabric coverings while winding off during theirrewinding operation with the coverings folded back to expose the packageexteriors comprising a tubular base inset in a recess in a platform andextending therethrough, an inflatable tubular member having its openend. secured to the upper portion of the base with an airtightconnection, said tubular member having a rib adjacent its upper end, anda cap fitting over the end of said member provided with a recess forengaging the rib of the member and forming a compartment, said tubularmember being constructed to freely receive thereover a thread packagehaving a thread-free interior and to nrst engage the wall of thethread-free interior of the package upon being inflated and thereafterto support the inner convolutions'of strands as the outer convolutionsare wound off, the compartment formed by the cap providing a retainerfor the upper folded portion of the fabric covering during theoperation.

-2. A holder for strandular textile material particularly adapted forholding normally untending therethrough,

coverings whilewinding ofi during their rewinding operation with thecoverings folded back to expose the package exteriors comprising atubular base inset in a recess in a platform and exan inflatable tubularmember having its open end secured to the upper portion of the base withan airtight connection, a support positioned within said tubular memberand having its end secured to the upper portion of the base, the saidinflatable member having a rib adjacent its upper end, and a cap fittingover the end of said member provided with a recess for engaging the ribof the member and forming a compartment, said tubular member beingconstructed to freely receive thereover a thread package having athread-free interior and to first engage the wall of the threadfreeinterior of the package upon being inflated and thereafter to supportthe inner convolutions of strands as the outer convolutions are woundoff, the compartment formed by the cap providing a retainer for theupper folded portion of the fabric covering during the operation.

3. A holder for strandular textile material particularly adapted forholding normally unsupported thread packages provided with fabriccoverings while winding off during their rewinding operation with thecoverings folded back to expose the package exteriors comprising atubular base inset in a recess in a platform and extending therethrough,an inflatable tubular member having its open end secured to the upperportion of a tubular base with an airtight connection, an air supplycommunicating with the interior of a tubular support through the mediumof the opening in the base, said support being secured to the base andpositioned within the inflatable tubular member, and being provided withports adjacent its lower end through which inflation and deflation ofthe inflatable member is effected, the said inflatable tubular memberhaving a rib adjacent its upper end, and

aauaa se 3 a cap fitting over the end 01 said member provided with arecess for engaging the rib o! the member and forming a compartment,said tubular, member being constructed to freely receive thereover athread package having a thread-free interiorand to first engage the wallof the threadiree interior of the package upon being inflated 5 ,fabriccovering during the operation,

ARTHUR L. JACKSON.

